Warrant details Lovell Street attacks

Monday

Jan 28, 2013 at 6:00 AMJan 28, 2013 at 9:04 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Recently unsealed search warrant affidavits filed by police investigating the killing of one man and attacks on two women inside a Lovell Street apartment last May revealed that one of the suspects stopped to eat strawberries during the crime.

The scene unfolded when police were called around 11:55 p.m. May 12 on a report of a baby left unattended in a car seat on Lovell Street. Police discovered a dead man and two severely beaten women inside a first-floor apartment at 326 Lovell St.

“All three victims were bound and gagged,” Detective Joseph Essex wrote in one affidavit on file at Central District Court. “The females appeared to have suffered multiple stab wounds and the male appeared to have been severely beaten.”

Javier Maldonado-Berrios, 32, had been strangled. Samantha Lester, the 18-year-old mother of the child, was found with a 10-inch knife stuck in her neck. Mr. Maldonado-Berrios' wife, Yannettee Rivera, had been struck in the head with a dumbbell.

Both women spoke to police and said one suspect ate strawberries during the attack. Ms. Lester gave police details.

“During her interview she stated one of the suspects removed strawberries from the refrigerator and ate them during the incident,” search warrant affidavits said.

Two men are facing murder charges in Worcester Superior Court: Noel Inoa, 27, of 53 Suffolk St. and Jose Marrero-Rodriguez, 34, of 98 Pine St., Southbridge.

Both also face charges of home invasion and several assault charges. They have pleaded not guilty and are to return to court next month.

Both men were identified by the surviving victims as their assailants, records show.

Police found a container of strawberries inside the apartment that is being checked for DNA. Police described the crime scene as brutal, noting that blood was spattered on the walls and floors of the apartment, search warrant affidavits said.

Money and jewelry were stolen. Police confirmed that drugs were found at the scene.

During their investigation, police discovered that Mr. Inoa had a license to carry a firearm. They learned he worked for a security company and frequently was stationed at a Worcester Housing Authority property on Murray Avenue. Mr. Inoa is accused of orchestrating the attack.

Police searched his apartment and car and found gloves, ammunition and several guns, an inventory of seized items shows. One of the women said her attackers were armed with guns and wore what appeared to be white gloves.

A bulletproof vest was found in a crib at Mr. Inoa's apartment, the warrants show. A U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons badge was in a nightstand. Boxes of vinyl gloves were inside the apartment as well.

The three victims in the Lovell Street attack were in Springfield earlier in the day celebrating Mother's Day and returned to the apartment late on the night of the attack. They were ambushed in the lobby, police said.

A third person also faces charges stemming from the killing. Barbara Marrero-Rodriguez, the 33-year-old sister of Mr. Marrero-Rodriguez and sister-in-law of Mr. Inoa, has pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm and misleading a grand jury, police or prosecutor.

Authorities are accusing her of lying to police and having a gun in her Suffolk Street apartment. She is scheduled to be in court next month.

Ms. Rivera told investigators a woman went to the Lovell Street building three days before the home invasion and spoke with her and Mr. Maldonado-Berrios. The woman asked about the building and the owner. It appears the victims were squatting in the building, which was owned by a bank, the records show.

A woman knocked on the building door the following day as well. She asked who else lived in the building.

“She told Rivera that she liked the neighborhood and that her mother lives in the area,” the affidavit said.

During the alleged attack one of the suspects said he had someone check out the home. Ms. Marrero-Rodriguez' chest tattoo matched one the woman who visited the home twice had, warrants state.